Wash-board



(No Model.)

M. 0. BURKE.

WASH BOARD.

No. 475,663. Patented May'24, 1892.

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MARY C. BURKE, OF MONTPELIER, IDAHO.

WA S H B OA R D SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,663, dated May 24, 1892. Application filed February 2'7, 1891. Serial No. 383,075. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it-known that I, MARY O. BURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montpelier, 1n the county of Bear Lake and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wash-Boards; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to wash-boards, and has for its object to provide a simple and improved wash-board which will possess advantages in point of inexpensiveness, durability, ease of operation, and general efficiency.

To this end my invention consists, substantially, in a wash-board having a rubbing-surface composed of chain fabric, the links or rings which are adapted to move under the pressure of the articles being rubbed when the wash-board is in use, whereby the washboard is adapted to thoroughly rub the articles in a very short time and with great effimoney.

My invention further consists in certain details in the construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which ill ustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved wash-board. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a modification.

In the upper end of the wash-board may be provided the usual soap-receptacle A, from which depend the sides B, the lower ends of which form the legs 0. The sides B are connected at a suitable distance from their lower ends by a cross-bar D,-and hence the sides, cross-bar, and soap-receptacle constitute a rectangular frame, over which is stretched a rubbing-surface E, which comprises a chain fabric composed of circular links F, which, are intermeshed, as shown. The circular links are arranged in vertical series, extending from the upper end of the rubbing-surface to the lower end thereof, and while the said series of links are intermeshed or looped into engagement with each other each vertical series is also intermeshed with the vertical series on each side thereof, the result being that while the entire rubbing chain fabric is stretched tightly on the wash-board each individual link or ring thereof is capable of independent vertical and lateral motion.

This construction is very advantageous, inasmuch as the individual links or rings move under the friction of the fabrics when the wash-board is in use and serve to very thoroughly rub them, thus lessening the labor of rubbing the clothes and effecting the operation with maximum efficiency.

Another advantage gained by this construction is that owing to the friction between the moving links or rings they are prevented from becoming rusted, thusnot only avoiding the danger of discoloring the fabrics being Washed, but also preserving the working or rubbing surface and enhancingits durability.

The chain fabric may have its edges attached to the four sides of the frame of the wash-board either by means of staples, nails, or screws, or by any other suitable means such as will suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art.

My improved wash-board may be provided with the usual back board G, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for the purpose of strengtheir ing the frame and providing a backing for the chain fabric, or under-some circumstances this back board may be entirely dispensed with, as shown in Fig. 3, the chain fabric being simply, tightly, and securely stretched and fastened within the rectangular frame, under which construction and arrangement both surfaces of the chain fabric may be used.

I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and specified, as manifest modifications may be made, particularly in the frame or body of the wash-board, and I therefore reserve the right to all such modifications and variations as properly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described wash-board having the rubbing-surface formed by the flexible wire chain fabric, substantially as set forth, stretched within the frame of the wash-board and secured thereto at its four sides, the fabric be- G ing relatively mounted above the bottom Wardly in the operation of washingsnbstan I6 plane of the Wash-board, so that the entire tially as set forth. fabric is unsupported at the back, whereby In testimony whereof I affix inysignaturein the connected links composing the flexible presence of two Witnesses.

5 metallic fabric are adapted to individually move under pressure of the articles of cloth- MARY BURKE ing rubbed against the salnein the operation WVitnesses:

of washing, while the fabric as an entirety JUSTIN MERRILL,

otters flexible resistance against pressure in- D. FLETCHER. 

